James ‘‘Jimmy’’ Zerr , 69, of Pierre, after a long battle with familial amyloidosis, died peacefully Friday, Sept. 3, 2021, with his family surrounding him at Avera Maryhouse in Pierre. A service for family and friends will be held in Mobridge at a later date.

Jimmy was the fourth of seven children of Pius “Punchy” and Junne Zerr of Mobridge and was a 1970 graduate of Mobridge High School. In school he was a determined, tough athlete, playing football and baseball. He was an outstanding infielder, carrying on a Zerr family tradition of quick feet and a strong arm that infielders need.

After graduation Jim enlisted in the Navy in November of 1970, following another Zerr tradition of service to their country. He served four years being honorably discharged in 1974. He was a Corpsman in the Navy and served in Long Beach Naval Hospital where he met the love of his life, Celine “Bunny” Gaut. She was a Corps WAVES and also in the Medical Corps. On the day they met, Bunny remembered his pickup line included reference to her having freckles just like him. She said she was not impressed because she hated her freckles. But he was persistent and soon the two became best friends and were inseparable. Two years later, they were married on Nov. 29, 1974, and remained together until his death. The couple had four children, Danae, Joshua, and twins Amanda and Eryn.

Jimmy chose a railroad career and worked as a brakeman for the Milwaukee Road while the family lived in Mobridge, where Danae and Joshua were born. When the railroad left Mobridge, the family chose to stay until 1987, when they moved to Pierre to follow the railroad. Jimmy then went to work for the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad and worked his way to engineer until he retired in 2013. Although his job often took him away from his family for days at a time, he remained a dedicated railroad man until his disease forced him to retire.

Jimmy’s love of fun and his great sense of humor made him a great dad, according to the kids, and a terrific grandad to granddaughter, Madilynn and grandson, Ronin. He played games with his kids and grandkids, teasing and tickling, causing fits of laughter that echoed throughout their home. From a very young age Maddi was obsessed with her grandpa’s Viking hats and would snatch them from his head whenever she got a chance. As she grew older, the hat game was played regularly with Maddi, his hat in hand, trying to outrun and hide from grandpa. They could often be found on a treasure hunt in the backyard or at a local park, finding pinecones and other gifts of nature.

Jimmy loved baseball, something he learned from his dad, and was a staunch Vikings football fan. He could be found each Sunday during the fall, dressed in purple, watching the games intently, throwing imaginary flags or a foam rubber brick at the TV when things were not going the Vikings’ way. Bunny, being born and raised in Colorado, is a Denver Broncos fan, which was the cause of frequent good-humored exchanges on Sundays in the Zerr house. Jimmy also loved to hunt and fish and being outdoors, which he passed onto his children. They have taken that love to another level, fishing and camping along the banks of Missouri, hiking the national parks and respecting Mother Nature as Jimmy was taught by his parents and passed it on to his children.

Jimmy and Bunny settled into retirement in their home in Pierre with their dogs, Tuffy, and later, Bear. A nightly ritual in the Zerr home was sharing ice cream. With both Maddi and the dogs, Jimmy would share his ice cream bars, saving the last bite for his canine companions.

He was diagnosed with the same disease that took the life of his father and brother, Bill. It finally took its toll on his body and when he needed long-term, special care, he was forced to leave his home for a care facility. Although COVID-19 kept his family away for a while, Jimmy never lost his sense of humor and was a favorite of the staff of Avera Maryhouse in Pierre, where he lived the last years of his life. His quick wit and upbeat spirit helped him stay positive as the disease ravished his body. He handled the debilitation with dignity and fought hard to stay with his wife and family. His long battle ended quietly with his family at his bedside at Avera Maryhouse.

Jimmy is survived by his wife of 47 years, Bunny; son, Joshua, of Spearfish; daughters, Amanda Hilmer and Eryn Zerr, both of Clarks, Nebraska; grandchildren, Madilynn (Maddi) and Ronin, also of Clarks; sisters, Pam Zerr of Lewistown, Montana, Paula (Kooner) Kosters of Mobridge, and Katie Zerr of Mobridge; brother Kevin (Jackie) of Helena, Montana; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Punch and Junne Zerr; brothers, Pat and Bill; and daughter, Danae.

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